Stem cell transplant

All facilities are excellent. I see Dr. Palmer at Scottsdale. I have pMF. You can also go to the BetheMatch.org website to view success rates based on diagnosis for various transplant centers. All the best!

Thank you for reply. Have the chance to go any Mayo Clinic of choice. Big decision to make. Was thinking Minnesota or Jacksonville

Using my own cells. Which Mayo Clinic to use? Minnesota or Jacksonville. Has anyone had any experience at either one?

Hi @chickey, You will notice that I added your other post to this discussion. I did this so we can keep all related topics from members in one area so people have the opportunity to respond to one conversation and they don't get confused on where to post.
I would love to add that all the Mayo Clinic campus's are great, but the Minnesota site was the first and largest site started by the Mayo Brothers.

Hi @chickey. My SCT was done at Mayo-Rochester. While I wouldn’t hesitate to go to any Mayo Clinic with their unparalleled patient care, attention to detail and post transplant follow up, there are some advantages to Rochester. I had an allo transplant so I was required to stay within a 30 mile radius for the first 100 days. Using your own cells, I believe the stay is shorter so your needs may be different.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester is connected to many of the hotels dedicated to short/long term stays and other living facilities via a wonderful tunnel (referred to as the subway) system to the clinic making the daily trips to the clinic easy with wheelchair or a short walk in climate controlled passages. Staying nearby in one of these housing options also has you connected to stores, restaurants, parking ramps and other businesses via the subway.

I’m 18 months post transplant, feeling fit and healthy again. I’m eager to give back to the community so if there’s anything I can do answer questions or make suggestions, don’t hesitate! My husband and took up temporary residence in Rochester for 4 months so we’re very familiar with the workings of the Clinic and the city.

Best wishes going forward...
Lori.

Hi Chickey, I had an allo transplant at Mayo Jax in October. I could not be happier with my hospital stay and all the staff, both while in the hospital and outpatient visits. Gretchen

Just finishing our 6 week transplant stay at Mayo MN. The BMT Teams here are marvelous! Professional, beyond competent and caring! Our road has been long and riddled with unexpected and unusual twists and turns. When each of the "hiccups" which could easily have derailed my husband's treatment any where else presented itself, the Team in charge had the additional Team required to deal with it on board before we were even aware of an additional problem. There isn't a curve ball they're not ready to handle.

Stem Cell Transplant is a long and tiring road, but Mayo MN walks you through it step by step, always educates and explains what and why as you go through. Here in MN at least Mayo is unusual in that they are set up to handle transplant as an "outpatient procedure". That doesn't mean you get to go back and forth from home - you have appointments to check blood work, vitals and you're attended to by a care provider every day and your caregiver has 24/7 access to the Team via phone and access to walk you into the BMT Floor at the hospital any time of the night or day - but you're not actually stuck in a hospital room for the duration.

I'm from MN, so I know what to expect from winter weather. Yes, it's cold, but Mayo has a wonderful "subway" system..... Not trains, but a system of brightly lighted hallways that appear the same as the hallways on the rest of the 17 floors through which you can access the entire Mayo downtown campus and many hotels and businesses. The shuttle takes you to the St. Mary's campus if needed and picks up and drops off at both Gift of Life Transplant Houses throughout the day. You can get your morning blood draw at Gift of Life as well so you can do those fasting labs then eat breakfast at your 'home away from home' before heading to the hospital for your daily Dr. visit.

The Mayo Campus in Rochester, MN is a tiny city located within the city of Rochester that has a MN small town feel. It's easy driving, it has access to everything you need when not 'temporaily closed due to Covid-19 Restrictions', and Mayo hospitality values permeate much of the city population.

Other than the fact that I'm sorry you have a medical condition which causes you to need a Stem Cell Transplant, you can't do any better in the world than Mayo MN.

@chickey, Thought I’d check in to see how you’re coming along with your decision on where to have your stem cell transplant. Have you made a selection which Mayo Transplant Center you’ll be using? It’s important that you’ll feel comfortable in your surroundings. You mentioned either Rochester or Jacksonville. Whichever you decide, you’ll be in excellent hands! Being very familiar with Mayo-Rochester, if you have any questions on that particular campus I’m happy to share my experience, along with others who have traveled that journey. I know we have other community members who have benefited from the Jacksonville site. When is your procedure date? Will you have a caregiver with you?